The structure and dynamics of plasma high-density lipoproteins and their interactions with the beta-amyloid peptide

Abstract

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are small, protein-lipid particles that transport cholesterol in the blood. HDLs have been proposed to protect against Alzheimer’s Disease via the specific binding and clearance of beta-amyloid, a plaque-forming protein that can accumulate in the brain. This research aimed to develop and characterise realistic computational models of representative HDLs of different sizes and compositions, to identify the structural and functional differences between particles that inform their capacity to effectively bind beta-amyloid.